Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

DECLARATION OF AN APPROVED WILDLIFE TRADE OPERATION –   QUEENSLAND EAST COAST OTTER TRAWL FISHERY, NOVEMBER 2025

I, LEE GEORGESON, Acting Director, Sustainable Fisheries and CITES Policy section, as Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water, hereby vary under paragraph 303FT(7)(b) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) the declaration of an approved wildlife trade operation dated 13 December 2024 for the Queensland East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery as defined in the management regime in force under the:

• Fisheries Act 1994 (Qld)
• Marine Parks Act 2004 (Qld)
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (Cth)
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
• Fisheries (General) Regulation 2019 (Qld)
• Fisheries (Commercial Fisheries) Regulation 2019 (Qld)
• Fisheries Declaration 2019 (Qld)
• Fisheries Quota Declaration 2019 (Qld)
• Fisheries (Saucer Scallops) Amendment Declaration 2021 (Qld)
• Marine Parks Regulations 2019 (Qld)
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 2019 (Cth)
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 (Cth)
• Coral Sea Marine Park Management Plan 2018 (Cth)

such that the condition specified in Schedule 1 to that declaration is varied as follows:

In Condition 5, delete the words

“By 1 December 2025, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries must:

1.        review the strategies in place for recovery of the identified depleted stock of saucer scallops (Ylistrum balloti) that occurs south of latitude 22 degrees south; and
2.        publish and implement a formal rebuilding strategy for this identified depleted stock in accordance with the Queensland harvest strategy policy and ensure there are mechanisms to monitor and manage the ongoing performance of the strategy to facilitate recovery of the depleted stock.”

and replace with the words

“By 15 January 2026, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries must:

1.        review the strategies in place for recovery of the identified depleted stock of saucer scallops (Ylistrum balloti) that occurs south of latitude 22 degrees south; and
2.        publish and implement a formal rebuilding strategy for this identified depleted stock in accordance with the Queensland harvest strategy policy and ensure there are mechanisms to monitor and manage the ongoing performance of the strategy to facilitate recovery of the depleted stock.”

Dated this 25th day of November 2025

LEE GEORGESON

………………….........

Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water

Notes:

1.         Under the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024, a person whose interests are affected by this decision may apply for a statement of reasons and for independent review of the decision. An application for a statement of reasons may be made in writing to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water within 28 days of the date of the declaration. An application for independent review may be made to the Administrative Review Tribunal on payment of the relevant fee within 28 days of the date of the declaration, or if reasons are sought, within 28 days of receipt of reasons. Further information may be obtained from the Director, Sustainable Fisheries Section, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Email: sustainablefisheries@dcceew.gov.au.